System and method for monitoring water treatment systems

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are described for monitoring and managing fluid treatment or storage systems, such as HVAC hydronic water systems. Sensors located at a fluid system can detect various types of data, such as chemical amounts, pressures, temperatures, flow rates, and more. Servers in communication with the sensors can record the data and provide it to a user in a variety of graphical interfaces. One useful interface for display of the data includes a five-sided axis called the OPTI-GON.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INFORMATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/706,478, filed Sep. 15, 2017, titled “System and Method forMonitoring Water Treatment Systems”, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,126,284; whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/395,185, filed Sep. 15, 2016, titled “System and Method forMonitoring Water Treatment Systems”, the contents of which are herebyincorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to water management and moreparticularly to an online cloud-based management and control system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many municipalities, commercial buildings, data centers, hospitals,universities, factories, utility plants, mining operations, oil fieldsand other entities have water systems requiring maintenance andmonitoring. Monitoring may be needed to ensure certain purity levels, toprotect against deleterious effects of water, facilitate periodiccleaning, to control utilities, monitor system operating efficienciesand materials, to monitor corrosion, organic and mineral fouling, andother factors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a system formonitoring an HVAC hydronic water system. The system can comprise: oneor more sensors operable to detect one or more properties of a fluid;one or more actuators operable to effect a change in the fluid; and oneor more servers communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. Theone or more servers can be operable to store historical records of theone or more properties and to compare the one or more properties to oneor more predetermined values and to send a notification when a propertyequals a predetermined value. The system can also comprise a computingdevice communicatively coupled to the one or more servers and operableto provide a graphical interface to a user, the graphical interfaceoperable to display the one or more properties. The computing device canbe further operable to receive a command from a user and to transmit thecommand to the one or more actuators, the computing device operable toreceive the notification from the one or more servers.

Another embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a method formanaging a fluid system. The method can receive data from one or moresensors that are coupled to the fluid system; store the data from theone or more servers; and send a subset of data requested by a user to acomputing device, the subset of data configured to be displayed in agraphical interface to the user. The method can also compare the datawith one or more predetermined values; and send a notification to thecomputing device if the data equals a predetermined value.

Another embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a method ofmonitoring a fluid system. The method can comprise receiving a data setregarding one or more properties of a remote fluid system; storing thedata set; creating a graphical interface comprising the data set fordisplay to a user at the mobile device; and sending the graphicalinterface to the mobile device.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 8A-8B is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodimentunder the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a diagram of a possible graphical interface embodiment underthe present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart diagram of a possible embodiment under thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 23 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 24 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 25 is a diagram of a possible system embodiment under the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The current disclosure describes systems and methods for water orresource management, preferably in HVAC (heating, ventilating and airconditioning) hydronic water systems. A system under the presentdisclosure can comprise a cloud-based information repository designed tofacilitate management decisions quickly and effectively withcomprehensive, at-a-glance dashboards and reports. Sufficient trendanalyses can be front and center with current livestream data coupledwith historical reports and “manage-by-color” according to macro andsegmented by areas based upon viewing privileges. Information managementin the water treatment realm has historically been pieced together frominformation gathered in the field at client sites as it relates to wetchemistry, control settings and equipment readings. Reports weredisjointed and were located on various software making trend analyses,problem identification/resolution very difficult let alone providing theopportunity to maximize system efficiencies via optimization as definedby key performance indicators.

One embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a monitoring andmanagement system for HVAC hydronic water systems. While certainembodiments under the present disclosure can comprise treatment andmaintenance of HVAC systems, the present disclosure can be applied tonumerous fluid or water treatment, maintenance, and monitoring systems.Possible embodiments could comprise boilers, chillers, storage tanks;fluid management of gas or oil in transportation trucks, vehicles, orboats; HVAC systems for vehicles or buildings; bottling operations andfacilities; gas stations; water asset management for fire departmentsand government entities; utility plants; asset management for retailers;water or feed tanks for animals or wildlife; agriculture; farms withmoisture detecting devices; and more. Embodiments can include systemsand methods for facilities management. Uses can include monitoring andmaintenance for mineral concentrations, corrosion rates, mineraldeposition, bacterial growth and more. A management system can comprisea one-directional (or bi-directional) information stream from a watermonitoring service (such as X-SPECT Total Water Performance Centers) viaencrypted API language into a client-facing portal. Information isfurther encrypted and stored on cloud-based servers with daily back-ups.When bi-directional communication is required, it can be limited toprofessionals of a managing entity in order to reach system controls toadjust settings to attain desired performance characteristics. Thisseparation of controller access prevents malicious attacks through themanagement system. The management system fosters the ability to identifyproblems, trends and frequencies of occurrences enabling a mobilizedresponse to analytics within, or developed by, the water monitoringservice.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system 100, incorporating elements of apossible embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown. Water systemsor fluid storage elements 105, 107, 108, 110 are shown. These elementscan comprise HVAC hydronic water systems 105, storage tanks 110, wells,reservoirs or pools 107, cooling towers 108, or any other storage ortreatment tool for water or fluids including but not limited tohydronic, potable/non-potable, re-use or reclaimed, recreational,irrigation, waste, process, steam, fresh or salt water. Each element105, 107, 108, 110 can comprise a variety of sensors such as sensors forconductivity, temperature, pH, ORP, specific ion, hardness, corrosionrates, chemical concentration, salinity, pressure, location, altitude,speed, humidity, moisture, pollutants, toxins, fluid level, weight,usage rates, and more. Each element 105, 107, 108, 110 can also comprisea variety of control mechanisms for directing the activities of theelement 105, 107, 108, 110. Some embodiments will not use controllingmechanisms but will focus on monitoring and reporting of status. Controlmechanisms can comprise valves or pumps that release, circulate orinject water and/or other substances or chemicals, valves that directwater/fluid through a filtering, sampling or other process, controls forpressure, temperature, or other properties, injection pumps, and more.These sensors and control mechanisms can be networked together via alocal connection or server/computer, or individually linked directly toa communication network 120, such as the internet. Communication betweensensors/controls and the communication network 120 can be wireless viasatellite 130, cellular service 140, other wireless technologies, radioor by wired communications, or any combination of the foregoing. Incommunication with the sensors and storage elements are a plurality ofservers 150 and/or computers 155. Servers 150 and computers 155 can beindividually linked to network 120 or they can be coupled together andthen share a connection to network 120. In some embodiments servers 150can also comprise a computer interface. In some embodiments computers155 can also comprise servers. In some embodiments servers 150 receivecommunications from sensors but cannot communicate to control thecontrol mechanisms. In some embodiments only the computers 155 are ableto direct the activities of the control mechanisms. Mobile device 160and computer 170 can provide an end user the ability to view the statusof an element 105, 107, 108, 110. In some embodiments, mobile device 160and computer 170 receive data from computers 155 and/or servers 150. Inother embodiments, the mobile device 160 and computer 170 receivecommunications directly from the sensors/controls of the elements 105,107, 108. Any water system or storage element can comprise communicationradios 190 in any preferable standard such as cellular, Wi-Fi and more.Multiple radios (or hardline connections) can be used at each site oreach sensor or sensor module. Other servers, hard drives, computers andequipment within the system 100 can also comprise radio interfaces. Thevarious hard drives, computers, servers and devices disclosed can beused to notify users of alarms, conditions, status, and more. In certainembodiments, certain servers and computers will have a notificationfunction, while different servers and computers will have responsive orcontrolling functions to address alarms or conditions needing attention.Functions can be divided for security purposes, so that not allfunctionality resides on a single server or device, for instance.Servers, computers, and devices can receive status information fromsystems, sites, and sensors and automatically compute action plans orresponses to status, including schedules of action plans.

Elements 105, 107, 108, 110 have been described as measuring ormonitoring fluids, such as water. The present disclosure could beapplicable to feeding systems for cattle, other animals or wildlife.Other materials stored in containers could be monitored and managed aswell.

FIG. 2 displays an embodiment of an HVAC hydronic water system 199 underthe present disclosure. Systems like system 199 could be implemented atany of elements 105, 107, 108, 110 of FIG. 1. System 199 comprises acontroller 200, water 205 (or another fluid), sensors 210, 215, 220,230, hardline or other communication connection 235, and injectionpoints 240 with valves or pumps 245. Although a water sample stream 255is shown, the present disclosure can comprise any type of water or fluidelement. System 199 comprises performance validation corrosion coupons225, sensors 210, 215, 220, 230 (a system can comprise any number ofnecessary sensors) that can be in communication with a network, such asshown in FIG. 1. The connection can be via a hardline 235 or via awireless interface on one or all of the sensors 210, 215, 220, 230 or tothe controller 200. Fluid 205 can comprise water or another fluid. Pipes255 and valves 260 can be used to direct fluid/water away or to thesystem 199. Injectors or valves 240 can also be used to add or subtractother substances, such as cleaning agents or certain desired chemicals250. Pipes 255 and 260 can also be used to supply water/fluid 205 toanother location, such as a process, building or water supply. Pipes 255and valves 260 can also be used to direct water/fluid 205 to a treatmentor testing process.

One benefit under the present disclosure is the ability to graphicallyconvey important information regarding a HVAC hydronic water system orother type of supply or treatment system. This can allow untrainedpersonnel to understand and work with the system. The present disclosurecan provide management tools, trend analysis, function verification,status updates, alarms, map views, and more. Some of these elements canbe color coded to allow users to quickly be notified of alarms, or forinstance to see a map view and have certain sites color coded to conveysafe or alarm conditions. The present disclosure can provide manydifferent options for management by visualization. Embodiments under thepresent disclosure can also provide for remote management and control ofwater or fluid supply and treatment systems.

Embodiments of a management system under the present disclosure canprovide a livestream of high-frequency data. Such a stream increasesdata resolution nearly 20-fold compared to limitations within controllermemory cards. Therefore, problems and trends can be magnified due tohyper-sampling (polling every five minutes compared to every 90minutes). “Snap-line” and scrolling trend analyses can clearly identify“cause and effect” results. Stacked graphs displaying key monitoringpoints can be illustrated in varying colors aiding in the identificationof parameters. The graphs also report high/low/average values over aselectable date range. Comparing peaks-to-valleys of sensor and meterdata visually illustrates the cause and effect nature of chemical watertreatment. Columns of site reports can be organized within a single tabproviding efficient and comprehensive remote evaluations pertaining toon-site water performance reports, corrosion reports and bacterialreports (specifically legionella).

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an interface 300 for communicating datafrom the sensors of FIG. 1 or 2 to a user. Numerous sites can be seen ona map view 310. A user can click or hover over a location on a map toview data from that location in the interface below the map.Alternatively, a drop-down menu, or tabs, may be used to select amongthe available locations. Different map locations 311 can be color codedto indicate alarms or other conditions. Drop down menus allow a user toselect a specific site to view detailed information such as bacterialevels 320, chemical inventories 330, and others. Tabs 340 allow a userto select different data to view. A live stream provides an up to dateview of various measurements 350. In FIG. 3 the “live stream” tab isshown. Contact, address, and other information may also be displayed.Examples of data that can be tracked and analyzed include conductivity,temperature, steel corrosion, copper corrosion, chemical amounts,chemical residuals, bleed, and flow. Other data can be tracked as well.Each measurement may be recorded by an associated sensor, or by a sensorthat tracks multiple measurements. Certain tabs in the interface of FIG.3 can allow a user to run or print a report. An example embodiment of areport 600 is shown in FIG. 6. Report 600 can include test data 620,historical data timelines 630, and action items or tasks 640. FIG. 3 canshow bacterial levels, chemical inventories, or other measurementsagainst a background, outline, or shading showing industry or standardlevels.

FIG. 3 can also show a status indicator which can take a color, such asgreen. Green can show that a site is functioning well or in goodcondition. If the status indicator goes red, an alarm condition could beintended. A site that is out of communication could also go red as atype of alarm condition. The color coding can assist a user to have“at-a-glance” management of his sites. A battlefield or map view canshow multiple locations. The locations can be identified by a colorarrow or other indicator on a map. A green indicator could indicate ahealthy site, red an alarm condition. Other colors could be used.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide measurements andreports on bacterial control. Periods of time (between operations, ortime to complete) of bacterial control data to determine systembiological control and cleanliness can be recorded and/or displayed.These can be exponentially depicted against a backdrop of industrystandards. Four months of results at-a-glance can be important toidentify quarterly trend analyses. Similarly, embodiments of the presentdisclosure can record and display chemical inventory. This can providepredictive maintenance scheduling to ensure sufficient inventories arecontinuously available to deliver performance standards.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a battlefield view 400. Battlefield viewhelps to provide valuable information in an easy to understand display.A map 420 can show the location of sites being monitored. Various sitesare shown and a color-coded key 410, 412 shows circulation, alarm, andconnection status for multiple sites. Other embodiments can replacethese three conditions with other factors. Clicking on one of thecolumns can rearrange the data according to a different criterion, asshown in FIG. 5. Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide,track, manage, and monitor alarms. Notices of out-of-“spec” conditionscan be time stamped/dated by parameter and alerted by change in sitedrop pin color from green to red. Users can sort alarms by date rangeand any combination of alarm parameters. When an alarm condition iscleared, the site indicator can revert to a green status. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure can comprise site indicators wherein a system(s)can be viewable by a colored drop pin on the map view. Other embodimentscan comprise a satellite view, street view, or weather radar data.

Colored drop pins can take a variety of forms. Red can indicate alarms,green can represent systems are in-line, yellow can indicate an unknowncautionary status and blue can represent the current site selected.These indicators can also be viewable immediately below site contacts onthe home page to prompt a quick response to site personnel and/orcontacts. When observing sites from this unique point of reference, auser can be able to see their entire list of sites on a map containingcolored drop pins and upon a grid indicating the status of systemcirculation, alarms and communication connectivity. Immediate attentionmay be directed to a site by clicking the corresponding map pin or gridlocation. Each of these items of interest can be quantified in adashboard totalizing the number of failed site points of interestsupporting at-a-glance and manage-by-color responses. Sortable featuresby site name, circulation, alarm or connectivity supports immediatetrend analyses, resource allocations, service deployments and scheduledoperating events. Functionality to address users affected by colorblindness has been incorporated by placing letters within colored statusindicators. For example, “G,” “Y” and “R” are displayed within theGreen, Yellow and Red (in-line, cautionary, alarm) status indicators forrapid management action to assign resources where they are neededinstead of managing by a predetermined schedule. This unique vantagepoint will reduce preventative and predictive maintenance expenses.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an interface 700 for the savings tab. Thistab shows how the system disclosed can save a user money. Tab 700 cancomprise a map view 710, bacteria levels 720, chemical inventory 730 andsavings data 750. Savings data 750 can comprise calculations or dataregarding water or fluid usage, efficiency measurements, and other data.

FIGS. 8A-10 show possible embodiments of an interface 800, 900, 1000under the reports tab, where clicking on a hyperlink can display thereport chosen. These reports can include the sample report shown in FIG.6. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a five-axis graphical representation reportcalled OPTI-GON (discussed further below). Reports such as 800, 900,1000 can be saved, printed, shared or otherwise exported from the systemfor additional use. Such reports can provide a history of the site.

FIG. 11 shows a possible embodiment of an interface 1100 under a datalogs tab. Here a compilation of data logs 1140 such as operator testresults, chiller loads, approaches and more can be collected for accessto a user. Each data log 1140, comprising either formatted data or rawdata, or multiple sets of data, can be downloaded, printed, or otherwiseexported for use by a user. Bacterial levels can be shown against abackdrop that shows a desired level or industry standard in a differentcolor or shadow. Chemical inventory levels can be depicted against abackdrop that shows present levels against full container capacities.

FIG. 12 shows a possible embodiment of an interface 1200 for the alarmstab. Here a user may view previous alarms and their location, time, dateand cause.

FIG. 13 shows a possible embodiment of an interface 1300 for the casestab. Here a user may view cases related to a site. Cases 1350 caninclude tests, case studies, alarm situations, or other instances savedby the system or by a user.

FIG. 14 shows a possible embodiment of an interface 1400 under theliterature tab. The literature tab may contain items 1450 such ascommunications from a manager, software or instruction updates, usermanuals, safety data sheets, certificates of insurance, or other items.

FIG. 15-20 display examples of a five-axis graph (called the “OPTI-GON”hereinafter) as described in several embodiments under the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 15-20 shows how the values displayed in a five-axisgraph can change. The threshold, actual, and target lines can bedisplayed. These lines could be dashed, solid, colored, shaded, orotherwise differentiated. For example, a green line could indicateactual measurements, red could indicate threshold/alarm values, andyellow could indicate target/desired values. When an actual value is outof bounds of the target or threshold values, then an alarm may be sentor triggered. FIGS. 15-20 also show how as values change, the axes canbe recalibrated and the scale of any axis adjusted as necessary.OPTI-GON graphs can be included on any interface shown in FIGS. 3-14 andcan incorporate online or offline data to create the graph.

FIG. 15 displays a sample OPTI-GON graph 1500. In this embodiment, thefive axes are solubility index 1530 (such as a proprietary Jenteksolubility index), Langelier's saturation index 1540, copper corrosionrate 1550, steel corrosion rate 1560, and chemical residual 1570. Othervalues and measurements can also be displayed instead of these examples.Line 1510 can represent a solid red line of an outer threshold value oralarm condition for each axis 1530-1570. Line 1580 can represent a solidyellow line of a targeted value or alarm condition for each axis1530-1570. Line 1590 can represent a dashed green line of actual valuesfor each axis 1530-1570 of a given water supply or fluid treatment site.In the example shown in FIG. 15, the steel corrosion rate is outside thealarm condition and the system will notify a user or activate some typeof alarm. In some embodiments, an alarm condition may not be anemergency and corrective measures may be taken without sounding an alarmor sending a notification. The OPTI-GON can provide a visuallycompelling depiction of inter-disciplinary principals of watermanagement. It can delineate threshold, target and actual values withinthe same view. Five-sided representations included under the presentdisclosure can identify corrective adjustments to apply to attainoptimization and/or problem resolution. When actual values arevisualized as if knots within a connected string, each axis is capableof being reduced by increasing the polar opposite axes. The corollaryapplies as well; whereby, when an axis is increased in numerical value,its opposing axes follow behind its vector movement and are subsequentlyreduced. Actual values are designed to reside within target values andwarrant significant action when approaching or exceeding thresholdvalues.

One embodiment of a five-sided representation can be implemented asfollows. Axes can be oriented in a pentagon shape with the first axis,Jentek Solubility Index, located at the approximately 12 o'clockposition, Langelier's Saturation Index (also substitutable with Rynar'sand Puckorius Indices) at the approximately 2 o'clock position, CopperCorrosion Rate located at the approximately 4 o'clock position, SteelCorrosion Rate at the approximately 8 o'clock position and ChemicalResidual located at the approximately 10 o'clock position. JentekSolubility Index (JSI) is used to monitor mineral solubility incirculation within an evaporative water system to ensure clean heattransfer surfaces and energy efficiency. Langelier's, Rynar's andPuckorius' indices (LSI, RSI and PSI respectively) measure watersaturation thresholds and have a direct impact on water consumption andsewage discharge. The arrangement of axes in FIG. 15 is a preferredembodiment, but other layouts are possible.

Some values, such as LSI, RSI, and PSI, may require physical collectionof samples of water and subsequent testing to work in conjunction withthe display of other values. Corrosion rates of copper and steelrepresent preservation of capital equipment: heat transfer surfaces(tubes and heat exchangers), pipe, chillers, cooling towers, closedcircuit coolers, evaporative condensers, air handling units andinterconnected equipment. Chemical residuals are tracked as mineralscale and corrosion inhibitors must control opposing forces of mineralprecipitation and corrosion. Since chemical inhibitors are customarilyformulated with a combination of molecules within a given formula, asynergistic effect is realized from their aggregate presences. However,formulations vary dramatically by composition, concentration,geographical water requirements and manufacturer. One benefit of thegraphical representations under the present disclosure can be theability to adjust axis values to customize the capabilities andlimitations of any formulation to attain the desired performancecriteria established within target and threshold values represented bygraphical representations and specified by either water treatmentconsultant, firm, client, engineering firm, or request for proposal(RFP). An immediate at-a-glance representation extracts complexchemical, numerical and graphical representations of data and convergesthem into a unique format that illustrates what conditions may beoptimized to maximize system efficiencies and longevities.

A water or fluid management system under the present disclosure cancollect data from a plurality of sites or locations, across numerouscities or states. A battlefield view can show numerous sites and allow auser to select one for view. The system can also coalesce usage andfailure data across time and multiple locations. Data can be compared oncorrosion rates, and other alarm situations. Data could be tracked onhow different repair services compare to each other on quality or timeefficiency. All the collected information can be used to optimize trendlines, set points, industry standard values, predetermined values oralarm conditions, and other data. For example, an alarm condition in anOPTI-GON, such as a chemical residual value, may be adjusted ifhistorical data suggests a different value is appropriate. Artificialintelligence could be used in some embodiments. For example, the systemmay comprise the ability to direct the actions of controllers at eachsite it manages. As data is received, and possibly compared with othersites, the system can autonomously change settings at site, or changepredetermined values or alarm conditions.

FIG. 21 displays a possible flow chart for some embodiments under thepresent disclosure. Property management systems 2110 can communicatewith water engineer services 2150, a monitoring system 2140 (which cancomprise a software as a service system or other data hub), and anonline chemist service 2120. The monitoring system 2140 can communicatewith the water performance engineer 2150, property management 2110, theonline chemist 2120, and a water management service, such as a HVAChydronic water system, 2130. Water management system 2130 can comprise aplurality of valves, injection pumps, and other components incommunication with a central server such as described in otherembodiments under the present disclosure, such as FIG. 1. The watermanagement system 2130 can communicate with the water performanceengineer 2150, the monitoring system 2140, and the online chemist 2120.Other embodiments can use further communication abilities among thevarious elements.

Embodiments under the present disclosure include the ability of a userto remotely manage an HVAC hydronic water system (or other system forwater or fluid storage or treatment). For example, a user in FIG. 1 atservers 150, computer 155, mobile device 160, or computer 170, may beable to interact in a bi-directional manner with any or all of elements105, 107, 108, 110. A user may send commands (such as in response to analarm condition) to effect changes. Commands can include turning off/onvarious systems or components. Such commands can include adjusting setpoints of controls, release of chemicals, summoning of technicians,pre/post treatment filtering processes, activation of control relays,opening/closing of valves, and more. Two-way communication from theclient portal or within the water management system allows inquiries,requests, problems, notices, etc. to be initiated and the progress ofresolutions tracked and edited by title, description, priority, datecreated/closed. On-line chemistry (or other) customer service can becatalogued through the cases function.

FIG. 22 displays another possible embodiment 2200 allowing a user tointeract with a water or fluid system. A user may interact with HVAChydronic water system 2270 by a computer 2210, mobile device 2220, orservers 2230. Devices 2210, 2220, 2230 may present a user withinterfaces such as shown in FIGS. 3-20. Communication can be viahardline 2265 via a communication network 2260 (such as the internet),cellular network 2240, or other wireless network 2250 (such assatellite). System 2270 can comprise a small part of a larger fluidtreatment or storage system (such as elements 105, 107, 108, 110 of FIG.1, or system 199 of FIG. 2). Conduits 2275, 2280 can provide fortransport of fluid to or from tank 2276. Valves 2278, 2282 can close andopen at the command of a user. System 2270 can comprise a connection tohardline 2265 or a wireless interface 2277 for communication. System2270 can comprise one or more interfaces 2271-2274 for adjusting orchanging settings of system 2270. For example, one interface cancomprise a heater/cooler for adjusting a temperature of the fluid.Another interface could control the release of materials such ascleaning agents, chemical testing materials, or other substances. Thiscould be accomplished with injection pumps, for example. Anotherinterface could comprise sensors for determining fluid composition,temperature, pressure, or other factors. The interfaces 2271-2274,valves 2278, 2282, wireless interface 2277, and hardline connection 2265can all be connected to a processor 2279 that receives commands from auser at 2210, 2220, or 2230 and translates or forwards the command tothe appropriate component. Processor 2279 can comprise connections toeach sensor or actuator in system 2270. Alternatively, each actuator,sensor, or component can comprise an individual connection to acommunication network. Actuators tend to be used for valves. When thecomponent being controlled is not a valve it may be preferable to use arelay. Embodiments can comprise actuators and/or relays that can becontrolled as appropriate depending on the component. Processor 2279 canalso be responsible for notifying a user or system of an alarmcondition. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to enablecommunication directly to a component, without the need for a processor2279.

Servers 2230 or FIG. 22 can comprise ways for a user to interact withsystem 2200. In other embodiments, servers 2230 may be notified of thestatus of a system, such as 2270, and may issue commands to system 2270without user input. Servers 2230 can also comprise the storage andmaintenance of historical data and serve to deliver data to other users,such as computer 2210 or mobile device 2220. Such delivery of data maytake the form of the interfaces shown in FIGS. 3-20.

In alternative embodiments under the present disclosure, a computingdevice, such as computer 2210, mobile device 2220, computer 170, ormobile device 160, may not be affiliated, via systems 2200 or 100 with afluid treatment or storage system. In such embodiments the computer 170,2210, or mobile device 160, 2220 may track data regarding a third partyfluid system but may have to upload data to a server, instead of thefluid system communicating directly with a server or data system. Suchan embodiment can be seen in FIG. 23. Fluid system 2310 may be able tocommunicate (wired or wireless) with a computer 2320 or mobile device2330 but not directly with server 2350. Computer 2320 or mobile device2330 may track data regarding system 2310, such as fluid levels,chemical levels, temperature, and more, and then upload such data toservers 2350. Servers 2350 can analyze and chart such data, and evendetermine alarm conditions. Conditions may be communicated to thecomputer 2320 or mobile device 2330. Bi-directional communication, andthe sending of commands, can be incorporated to system 2300 as describedin other embodiments under the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 displays a possible method embodiment 2400 under the presentdisclosure. At 2410, data from one or more sensors that are coupled toan HVAC hydronic water system (or other system) can be polled orreceived. At 2420, the data is stored at one or more servers. At 2430,at least a subset of data that is requested by a user is sent to acomputing device, the subset of data configured to be displayed in agraphical interface to the user. At 2440, the data is compared with oneor more predetermined values (or set values). At 2450, a notification issent to the computing device if the data equals a predetermined value.In some embodiments, historical data may be used to adjust thepredetermined value. For example, a predetermined failure indicator maybe compared to historical data on failure and the predetermined failureindicator may be adjusted up or down.

FIG. 25 displays another possible method embodiment 2500 under thepresent disclosure. At 2510, a data set is received from a mobile deviceregarding one or more properties of a remote fluid system. At 2520, thedata is stored. At 2530, a graphical interface is created of the dataset for display to a user at the mobile device. At 2540, the graphicalinterface is sent to the mobile device.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for monitoring an HVAC hydronic watersystem comprising: receiving data from a plurality of sensors, theplurality of sensors operable to detect one or more properties of afluid; controlling a plurality of relays or actuators operable to changea setting in the HVAC hydronic water system, the plurality of relays oractuators operating valves or pumps connected to additives that change aproperty of the one or more properties of the fluid when added to thefluid; storing historical records of the one or more properties on oneor more servers communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors;comparing, using the one or more servers, the one or more properties toone or more predetermined ranges of values and to send a notificationwhen a property of the one or more properties is outside of the one ormore predetermined range of values; providing a graphical interface to auser, the graphical interface operable to display the one or moreproperties and comprising a multi-axis graph with each axis extendingoutward in opposing directions from a single point, the axes of themulti-axis graph together delineating actual sensed, threshold andtarget values of a plurality of the properties and a plurality ofindexes based on the properties; and actuating the plurality of relaysor actuators in response to one or more instructions, based on one ormore of the displayed indexes, and/or displayed properties.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the multi-axis graph comprises five axes. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the five-axis graph comprises an axis fora solubility index, an axis for a chemical residual, an axis for a steelcorrosion rate, an axis for a copper corrosion rate, and an axis for asaturation index.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality ofservers are operable to calculate a solubility index, a chemicalresidual, a steel corrosion rate, a copper corrosion rate, and asaturation index using the received data from the plurality of sensors.5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors each measure achemical, electrical, or mechanical property.
 6. The method of claim 1wherein at least one of the plurality of relays or actuators is operableto maintain at least one of the one or more properties within apredetermined range of values.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising sending a status indicator of a state of the hydronic watersystem for display to the user.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein thestate of hydronic water system is identified by a color determined atleast in part by a comparison of the data to the one or morepredetermined ranges of values.
 9. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising creating, by the one or more servers, a maintenance requestfor the HVAC hydronic water system.
 10. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising requesting a replacement part for the HVAC hydronic watersystem, based on one or more of the displayed indexes, and/or displayedproperties.
 11. A method for managing a plurality of fluid treatmentsystems, comprising: for each fluid system in the plurality of fluidsystems, detecting one or more properties of the fluid treatment systemusing a plurality of sensors, each sensor associated with a particularproperty of the fluid; for each fluid system in the plurality of fluidsystems, receiving the one or more properties from the plurality ofsensors at a controller in communication with the plurality of sensorsand, the controller configured to send the one or more properties to amobile device; and one or more servers in communication with the mobiledevice and operable to receive the one or more properties from themobile device and format the one or more properties for display to auser at a computing device using a graphical user interface comprising amulti-axis graph with each of the axes extending outward from a singlepoint, the axes of the multi-axis graph together delineating actualsensed, threshold and target values of a plurality of the properties anda plurality of indexes based on the properties, the one or more serversoperable to compare the displayed properties and indexes to thethreshold and target values, and further operable to notify a user of analarm condition based at least in part on the comparison.
 12. The methodof claim 11 further comprising changing the properties of a fluid byoperating valves or pumps connected to additives that are introduced tothe fluid based on instructions from the one or more servers.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising displaying the plurality of fluidtreatment systems to the user on a map and to represent an alarmcondition of one of the plurality of fluid treatment systems with afirst color and to represent a lack of alarm conditions with a secondcolor.
 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the multi-axes graph comprisesan axis for a solubility index, an axis for a chemical residual, an axisfor a steel corrosion rate, an axis for a copper corrosion rate, and anaxis for a saturation index.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein thereceived properties from the plurality of sensors are used by the one ormore servers to determine a solubility index, a chemical residual, asteel corrosion rate, a copper corrosion rate, and a saturation index.16. The system of claim 11 wherein one axis of the multi-axis graphdisplays biological growth.
 17. The system of claim 11 wherein each axisof the multi-axis graph can be programmed to display differentproperties at different times.